Vapor electric apparatus and method of operating the same.



UNTTED sTATEs PATENT onirica.

EZECHL WEINTRAUB, OF SCIIENECTADY, NEW YOR'K, ASSIG-NOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF,OPEB.ATING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.. 3, 1914.

Application led November 17, 1902. Serial No. 131,636.

Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State lso of New York, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Vapor Electric Apparatus and Methods of Operating the Same, of which the following is a specifica,- ti-on.

My invention relates to improvements in that type of apparatus in which an electric discharge is produced within an exhausted envelop or in an envelop containing a more .or less attenuated gas or vapor and comprises also certain methods of operating apparatus of the type indicated.

The features of novelty which characterize my invention I have set forth with particularity in the appended claims while the invention itself, as represented by some of the various embodiments of which it is capable, is set forth, together with a description of its mode of operation, in the following speci-i ication which is to be ltaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l represents one embodiment ofl my invention, Fig. 2 a modification, and Fig. 3 still a different modication.

In the vapor electric lamp which I have chosen to illustrate my invention, the main electric discharge isvvproduced between electrodes, one at least of which is of vaporiz- Vable material though it is within my invention to make all the main electrodes of vaporizable material. This electric discharge I initiate in a novel manner. The starting of the main discharge is produced, in an electric lamp built in accordance with my invention, between two contact surfaces of solid material suchfor example as graphite, iron, platinum, platinum-iridium, or similar solid and relatively non-vaporizable material. I recognize that nearly every substance under the action of an electric arc or discharge may be to a certain extent disintegrated or vaporized, the effect of which is to give color or body to the discharge. By using the term vaporizable material I do not however intend to include substances such as mentioned but rather such a class of substances as exempliied by mercury, potassium, sodium, caeslium, rubidium, o-r combinations of any of these elements with mercury, or other substances of they same 'general nature, which under electric action are capable of vaporizat-ion to such an extent vapor. e Y

Having generated within the electric lamp a discharge between points or surfaces of solid non-vaporizable material, which discharge takes place through the vapor of the vaporizable electrode or electrodes of the lamp, I transfer the seat of the discharge to the main electrodes, thereby putting the lamp into normal operation. ITo eect this result I make one of the non-vaporizable electrodes either a part of one of the-main electrodes o-r electrically connect it therewith. The initial discharge between the solid contact points or surfaces I find under these circumstances creates a condition whereby the electro-motive force impressed upon the main electrodes of the tube is enabled to set up the normal discharge in the lamp. I account for this fact on the hypothesis that the spark produced between the relatively non vaporizable contacts ionizes the vapor of the vaporizable material in the lamp, which vapor is always present even at ordinary temperatures, and this ionization is propagated along the tube or yenvelop until the space between the electrodes is wholly ionized, whereupon an arc or discharge takes place completely from one main electrode to the other.

Although for the purpose of explaining my linvention I have thus set forth very briefly the general'nature of the phenomenon which I at present believe takes place,- I do not wish` my invention to be confined by any particular `theory of the matter, since whatever may be the theory, the benefits of my invention may be gained regard-v less of knowledge thereof.

In Fig. 1 which represents one embodiment of my invention, the main tube or light transmitting envelop of the lamp is indicated at 1. This envelop is represented in the form of a long, straight tube, but it will be evident that the envelop may assume widely different forms without departing ved at 3, of some non-fluid vaporizable material such for example asv an amalgam conas to ll the envelop of the lamp with their from my invention. The opposite ends of taining a proportion of the substance mixed with the mercury to form the amalgam sufficient to render the amalgam non-fluid at ordinary temperatures., The upper electrode 2'which I have referredto as formed of artificial graphite is made of this material because of the fact, `which I have discovered, that under the influence of the heat generated in the lamp during normal operation it does no t disintegrate or give 0H vapors or gases. 'The graphite used may be either that lproduced in the electric furnace, in which all impurities which are vaporizable at the temperature of the electric furnace are driven ofi', or'it may be natural graphite which has been purified by treatment under similar conditions.

The main electrode 2, for reasons presently to be set forth, is either flexibly or pivotally supported from the leading-in Wire 4 by which current is conveyed to the electrode from some external source. This leading-in wire 4 may be jointed as indicated at 5. The lower electrode 3 is in turn provided With a leading-in Wire 6 which passes through the lower end of the envelop 1 and extends up into and is surrounded by the body of the electrode 3. 'I

To enable the lamp thus described to be started, I provide, in the present instance, an auxiliary or supplemental electrode 7 arranged so that it may make and break engagement with the main electrode 2. This auxiliary electrode may consist of a plat-.-

inum or a platinum-iridium Wire andr issupported Within a small tubular extension 8' of the main tube This Wire passes through the Wall of this tubular extension at 9, and the external projection 10 thereof is connected either directly or through a suitably chosen resistance 11 to the other main terminal 6 of the lamp. The auxiliary electrode when in operation acts as a cathode and may therefore become highly heated, so that to equalize the heating of the tubular extension when the Wire 7 passes through the Walls thereof, I surround the Wire 7 with a body of mercury 12, and in order to prevent this mercuryfrom forming a Vaporizable electrode, of the lamp, I insulate it from the Wire 7 by surrounding the Wire to a suliicient height-With la coating of glass 13.

In order to start the lamp itis only neces- A sary to slightly shake the upper end thereof until the main contact 12 makes and breaks contact with the wire 7. Under these conditions an electric discharge is produced as the contact is broken and this electric discharge I nd immediately operates to set up the main arc or discharge between the main terminals 2 and 3, these actions of course taking place under the influence of currents supplied to the lamp over leads 14, 15 connected to the terminals 4 6 thereof. After the main discharge is once started, the disibamos charge from the main electrode 2 to this auxiliary electrode ceases. However, to insure the interruption of current in the circuit including the auxiliary electrode, in case of accidental short-circuit or the like, I provide a cut-out having contacts 14 in said circuit adapted to be separated When a magnet 15 in one of the main leads of the lamp is energized by the starting of the lamp.

In the arrangement described in connection with Fig. 1 the auxiliary electrode cooperates With the positive electrode or anode and is electrically connected outside of the lamp envelop to the negative electrode or cathode. This arrangement may however be reversed Without departing from the spirit of my invention and such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 2 in Which an auxiliary electrode 16 coperates With the negative electrode or cathode and is electrically connected outside of the tube through the circuit 18' With the positive electrode or anode 20. The auxiliary electrode,'While it may contact directly With the vaporizable cathode 17, is in this case arrangedI to make contact with a solid non-vaporizable extension 2O thereof formed for example of platinum-iridium Wire. This Wire extends through the Walls of thel envelop v21 and forms the leading-in Wire with Which connection is made with the supply circuit at 22. Unlike the arrangement shown 1n Fig. 1 the auxiliary electrode is movable with respect to its coperating electrode instead of fixed. Various constructions may be employed in this connection, as for example the one shown in Fig. 2 in which theelectrode consists of a cylinder, plate, prism, or the like 23, loosely suspended from a support 24 of Wire passing through the end of a tubular projection 25 forming part of the envelop of the lamp. The art of the Wire 24 Where it passes through t e extension does not require to be coated With glass and this in turn surrounded with a body of mercury, since the auxiliary electrode in this instance, acting as an anode, does not become as highly heated as may be the case with the auxiliary electrode described in connection with Fig. 1.

The mode of operation of the embodiment of my invention last described is substanf lvaporizable material forming the body of t-he cathode 17. is strengthened by the new supply ofions derived therefrom, Whereupon the ionization is propagated along the interior of the envelop thereby setting up an I arc or discharge between the -main electrodes of the lamp. As soon as this takes place the current through the conductor 18 'connected to the auxiliary electrodeis interrupted by a cut-out having circuit-breaking contacts 18 in the circuit of the conductor 18 and an actuating magnet 19 in the main circuit leading to the lamp. A resistance 27 is placed in the circuit or conductor 18 but in case of envelops or tubes of short length and relatively low electro-motive force the resistance may be of small value or entirely omitted.

In Fig. 3 I have represented an arrangement whereby the lamp shown in'Fig. 2 may be rendered automatic in action. -The construction of the lamp is the same as that of Fig. 2 and the corresponding parts are therefore similarly designated. There is however provided in addition a small eleetromagnet 28 in series with one of the incoming leads and this magnet is arrangedso that when current is turned on to the lamp it attracts the auxiliary electrode 29 thereby separating it from the cooperating extension 30 of the cathode 31 thus producing the auxiliary starting arc which sets the lamp in operation in the manner, already described. The aux-4 iliary electrode 29 in this case requires either to be made of magnetic material or to have attached thereto a piece of magnetic material so as to be acted upon by the magnet 28. The operating surface of the auxiliary electrode, when the. same is not constructed wholly of magnetic material, may be made of artificial graphite and this same material may be used of course for the construction of the auxiliary electrode in either or both of the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

YVhile a lamp constructed in accordance with my invention may have its negative electrode or cathode formed of sin leelepments such as meruydtssium, so ium, csiuin, and rubidium, without the adniixture of other material, I nd it a decided advantage for various reasons to incorporate with low boiling point substances such as mercury, certain materials having a higher boiling point or vaporizing point whereby the boiling point of the combination isrendered higher than the boiling point ofthe mercury or other substance alone due to which fact the vapor tension in the lamp is less for a given temperaturewhen amalgams or mixtures of mercury with diferent substances are employed than when mercury -alone is used. This reduction in the vapor tension of the lamp greatly increases the stability of operation of the same by which I mean that the lamp is rendered less liablet-o be extinguished by iuctuations in the current supplied, in the external temperature, and so forth. It is to be observed however that the vapor tension in the lamp should not be reduced too greatly by the means mentioned,

as otherwise the object desired may be defeated. Materials which I nd of especial value for mixture with the mercury are those having a relatively low boiling point ,such for example as lithium and magnesium.

While I have described abovejn connection with the accompanying drawing various forms which my invention may assume, it is to be understood that numerous other changes and modifications may be utilized without departing from the spirit of my invention and I therefore `do not Wish to be limited to the exact details shown and described.

`What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States is 1. The method of operating a vapor electric apparatus, which consists in generating an electric discharge between a plurality of solid electrodes in the apparatus, and initiating thereby an electric discharge between electrodes, one at least of which is of vaporizable material. 2. lThe method of operating a vapor elec tric apparatus, which consists in maintaining the main electrodes of the lamp at different electric potentials, andcausing an electric discharge to take place between said electrodes by first initiating an electric dis.- charge between solid electrodes in theapparatus, one of which constitutes a portion or extension of one of the main electrodes.

A 3. The method of operating a vapor electricl apparatus, which consists in impressing an electro-motive force upon the main electrodes o/f the apparatus, one at least of which is of vaporizable material, producing in said lamp an electric discharge between surfaces of relatively non-vaporizable material, and transferring the seat of the discharge to the main electrodes.

il. The method of starting a vapor electric ipparatus having electrodes, one at least of which is of vaporizable material, which con! sists in producing in the apparatus an electric discharge between electrodes of relatively non-vaporizable material, and trans-v ferring the seat of the discharge to the main electrodes. l

5. The method of operating a vapor electric apparatus having a pluralityy of electrodes one at least of which is of vaporizable material, which consists in rst ionizing residual vapor in the apparatus and then communicating the ionization to the Vaporizable electrode.

6. The method of operating a vapor electric apparatus having electrodes one atleast of which is adapted to emit vapor, which consists in maintaining electrodes of the apparatus at different potentials, ionizing residual vapor in the apparatus, and thenV generating ionized vapor from said vapor-emitting electrode.

7. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination of an envelop, and coperating electrodes therein, one of said electrodes being formed of artificial graphite.

8. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination of an envelop, a non-vaporizable "anode,-a vaporizable cathode, a solid nonvaporizable conductor projecting from the surface of the cathode, a supplemental or auxiliary anode coperatively related to said projecting conductor, and means for producing an electric discl1argebetween said supplemental or auxiliary anode and said projecting conductor.

9. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination of an envelop, an electrode therefor consisting of a body of readily vaporizable conducting material non-fluid at ordinary temperatures, a relatively. refractory electrical conductor electrically connected to said body of vaporizable material, an auxiliary electrode or conductor adapted to make contact with said relatively refractory conducting body, and means for producing an electric discharge by breaking said Contact. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of November, 1902.

EZECHIEL VVEINTRAUB.

`Witnes`ses: v BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD. 

